diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
index bf28637ba..f5ca55ac6 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ instance Show Journal where
              (show accounts)
              (show $ jcommoditystyles j)
              -- ++ (show $ journalTransactions l)
-             where accounts = flatten $ journalAccountNameTree j
+             where accounts = filter (/= "root") $ flatten $ journalAccountNameTree j
 
 -- showJournalDebug j = unlines [
 --                       show j